Since November 19, World Vision and thousands of people around the world have been traveling the globe in search of the Christmas spirit as part of the Christian humanitarian agency’s “Spirit of Christmas” tour. The month-long tour features interviews and stories with children and families in the United States, Ecuador, Cambodia, Zambia and Ethiopia. In the past two weeks, World Vision’s team has been highlighting both the heartbreaking circumstances of the poor and the inspiring impact even small donations of a few dollars can make in helping families provide for child education.

“So far, we’ve traveled from the neighborhoods of New York City to the mountains of Ecuador to see if we can find the ‘true spirit of Christmas’ around the world,” said Devin Hermanson, campaign manager for World Vision’s “Spirit of Christmas” tour. “In a year full of financial scandals, war, natural disasters, and a global recession, we all need a little encouragement. What we’ve found so far is that people around the world are still helping their neighbor in need.”

The team has traveled to New York City and Quito, Ecuador. The team left Ecuador on Saturday, November 28 and traveled to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. There the team will learn first-hand about the sex trafficking industry and meet several young children who have been rescued from sexual slavery and are rebuilding their lives. About 2 million children - most of them girls - are enslaved in the global sex trade today.

SOURCE World Vision U.S.